#and I want to continue the legacy too to gen 10 and beyond!

[melien]

Been a bit quiet (aside from story posts that I occasionally draft) but I've been archiving a lot of old stuff including my OG Fletcher legacy to have easy access to it in the docs (and maybe get some inspiration/thoughts for the characters who are still relevant in my verse by seeing how their original development went) and damn one of my main takeaways was that I absolutely slept on Kyle and Lyra as a couple. Now that I have a special soft spot for couples that are best friends first I see their beauty and I love them both separately and together😭

[vietthaimeco]

Future Cars! 2020 and Beyond

Car buyers—you’re in for a treat. Because no matter your budget for a new car, the future is bright. The wait is almost over for Corvette fans waiting for a mid-engine layout, but with the Shelby GT500 and new M3 on the way, the Chevy will have some serious sports car company.

And maybe you’ve heard, but our automotive future is electrified. From Fiat to Audi, fully electric cars you might actually want to drive will be here soon (if a Model 3 and the other existing options aren’t your style).

So keep reading for more on future cars headed to a dealership near you.

More on future cars:

Future SUVs! 2020 and Beyond

WHAT’S NOW

Chevrolet Corvette

What’s New: The long-awaited mid-engine Corvette is finally here. After years of rumors, spy shots, leaks, and speculation, Chevrolet will finally peel the camo off this July. When it does, we expect to find a dual-overhead-cam V-8 under the rear glass with a pair of turbochargers driving the rear wheels through a manual or dual-clutch automatic transaxle. Multiple power outputs are expected courtesy of various displacements, with both 4.2-liter and 5.5-liter versions to be fitted. An all-new electrical architecture will feature top-of-the-line sensors and computers for performance and handling enhancement, but you’ll no doubt be able to turn them all off, too. Inside, Chevrolet has gone upscale with a classy, driver-focused interior featuring premium materials and a digital instrument cluster. Although base-model Corvettes will start at about $70,000, higher-performance models will quickly shoot up in price to cover both the development cost and the improvements in technology, performance, and comfort. But they should still remain relatively attainable.

What’s Not: Base cars are expected to employ Chevrolet’s tried-and-true 6.2-liter pushrod V-8. Midrange cars might also employ the supercharged pushrod engine. We predict Chevrolet will continue to offer a removable targa roof that will store in the cargo area.

When: July 18, 2019

How Much: $70,000-$140,000 (est)

Porsche Taycan

What’s New: Everything. For some time now, the highly anticipated first all-electric Porsche sedan has been caught testing, piling up about 1.2 million miles in the process. It’s looking less futuristic than its Mission E concept, but we know an 800-volt system sends power to two electric motors generating a combined 440 kW (590 hp), and that power is sent to all four wheels. Said to be quicker than 3.5 seconds to 60 mph and with more than 300 miles range, the Taycan will be available at the end of this year. Buyers will receive three years of free charging at the 484 Electrify America public stations across the country. Using DC fast charging, up 60 miles of range can be had in just four minutes or roughly 250 miles in about 15 minutes. Some reports indicate the automaker wants to introduce higher-performance variants and a Targa. We can’t wait.

What’s Not: Even EV skeptic (and longtime Porsche test driver/brand ambassador) Walter Röhrl was impressed: “It’s crazy. In all my years of rallying, I’ve never experienced such performance. The Taycan goes so well at such speed, really tremendous. If I had to drive it blindfolded, I would still know immediately that I was sitting in a Porsche.”

When: Late 2019

How Much: $85,000 (est)

BMW M3

What’s New: The 2021 M3 will carry the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine as the X3M and X4M crossovers, meaning 473 hp and 442 lb-ft of output (or thereabouts, due to slightly different tuning for a sedan and crossover). That should result in 0–60 acceleration around 3.7 seconds. (Note: The current model tops out at 444 hp on the CS version.) A year or so down the line, the M3 Competition will provide in the neighborhood of 500-plus hp. The new G20 platform rides with 1.6 inches more wheelbase and has a wider track, which might prioritize corner-on-rails stability over quick-twitch handling. The M3 should allow for both RWD and AWD applications. (AWD might be defeatable to RWD if desired, as on the M5.) There is rumor of a “Pure” stripped-down base model with a stick shift (yay!) but slightly less power (sigh).

What’s Not: Some switches, controls, and knobs. It’s a new platform with upgraded engines, even a new infotainment interface.

When: Early 2020

How Much: $68,000 (est)

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

What’s New: The Shelby GT500 returns for the first time on the sixth-gen Mustang. Using a new engine and some aero enhancements, Ford promises this Mustang can hit 180 mph and that it won’t overheat at the track. This Shelby ought to be easier to lap, too, as it comes standard with a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic. There are no plans for a manual in 2020.

What’s Not: Although it shares its displacement with the GT350’s flat-plane-crank V-8, the Shelby GT500’s 5.2-liter V-8 is a cross-plane design. Between that and the supercharger, Ford claims power and torque have increased from 526 hp and 429 lb-ft in the GT350 to more than 700 hp and 600 lb-ft in the GT500.

When: Late 2019

How Much: $75,000 (est)

Cadillac CT5

What’s New: The CT5 is a new nameplate for Cadillac. This compact sedan replaces the ATS and CTS and is an evolution of Cadillac’s design language. The standard engine is the new 237-hp, 258-lb-ft 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged I-4 that made its first appearance in the CT6 refresh. A modified 335-hp, 400 lb-ft 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 (smaller turbos) is available and debuts in the CT5. Both are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. New rear badging will denote a rounded-off torque figure in Newton-meters. Super Cruise will be added in the second model year. A CT5-V is expected in the future.

What’s Not: It rides on GM’s rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform with some enhancements to the carryover front multilink strut and rear five-link suspension. All-wheel drive will be available on all trim levels.

When: Fall 2019

How Much: $48,000

Volkswagen Golf

What’s New: Volkswagen’s popular hatchback enters its eighth generation and will reportedly grow slightly in size with a few design tweaks. The sporty GTI will allegedly feature a mild hybrid powertrain featuring a 48-volt electrical system that will power the turbocharger to improve low-end boost before the exhaust pressure builds. It’s not yet clear whether the standard non-GTI Golf will return to the U.S. market.

What’s Not: The new Golf will still ride on VW’s MQB platform, though rumors suggest it’s been revised to cut weight.

When: Early 2020

How Much: $23,000 (est)

Maserati Alfieri

What’s New: The Alfieri has been designed from the ground up to be Maserati’s new halo car. It’s available as either a coupe or convertible with three levels of electrification. The EV version featuring three-motor, four-wheel drive and a quick-charging 800-volt battery will top the lineup.

What’s Not: Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Alfieri will use a Ferrari-sourced engine. If that engine is a V-8, it will probably be a version of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo currently found in the Levante GTS.

When: 2020

How Much: $150,000 (est)

Porsche 718 Boxster T/718 Cayman T

What’s New: Following the widely praised “T” prescription that was given to 911 Carrera brethren, the 718 twins will similarly enjoy reduced weight, lowered and further-honed suspension, the Sport Chrono package, and Porsche Torque Vectoring. A six-speed manual is standard; a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic is optional. The 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four 718 T (likely 300 hp, 280 lb-ft) will slot into the lineup between S and GTS versions in terms of price but surely will be the pointiest 718 available.

What’s Not: Engine output for the States has not yet been finalized, but as in the base car, it’s a 2.0-liter turbo for certain. The Cayman T coupe and Boxster T roadster body lines remain the same; only subtle interior and exterior distinctions are visible.

When: 2020

How Much: $70,000 (est)

Subaru Legacy

What’s New: The Legacy moves over to Subaru’s new Global Platform, which the automaker says is safer, handles better , and maximizes interior volume. An optional 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four is now available, and the redesigned interior can be had with a large 11.6-inch touchscreen oriented vertically on the dashboard. The EyeSight package of driver assistance technology is now standard, and other driver assist features are available.

What’s Not: A 2.5-liter flat-four engine still serves as the base powertrain, but has been updated with 90 percent new parts and direct injection for the 2020 Legacy.

When: Fall 2019

How Much: $24,000 (est)

Hyundai Elantra

What’s New: After a refresh for 2019, the compact Elantra is back with more updates for 2020. The Elantra will feature a new CVT. Like its cousin, the 2019 Kia Forte, it’s likely to grow in size compared to its predecessor. Expect gains in fuel economy, with the base 2.0-liter engine hitting 41 mpg on the highway.

What’s Not: Although power figures haven’t been released, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has been confirmed once again. It’s likely the model will also continue with 1.4- and 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines.

When: Late 2019

How Much: $18,500 (est)

WHAT’S NEXT

Aston Martin Vanquish

What’s New: It’s Aston’s take on a Ferrari mid-engine supercar, specifically at the new F8 Tributo revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. If it looks anything like the concept and revives the Vanquish name, we’ll be extremely happy. The Vanquish could pack the new V-6 hybrid turbo behind the seats, possibly making north of 700 hp to compete directly with the Tributo. We’ve heard the new model is being developed with the help of Red Bull Racing engineers, so expect the car to have a lot of F1 bits and pieces.

What’s Not: Its name. The name Vanquish has come and gone a couple of times—it was first used from 2001 to 2007 and then again from 2012 to 2018. Aston built a few special editions, but this new supercar will be completely different from anything we’ve seen with the Vanquish badge.

When: 2020

How Much: $350,000 (est)

Alfa Romeo GTV

What’s New: As Alfa’s practical coupe, the GTV will have four seats and a trunk, but that’s where the practicality ends. The front-engine, rear-drive 2+2 is expected to be offered only with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive will be optional. The high-performance Quadrifoglio model will add an electric motor between the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 and the transmission to boost output to more than 600 hp.

What’s Not: At its core, the GTV is a Giulia coupe. Expect the same turbocharged four-cylinder base engine.

When: 2021

How Much: $45,000 (est)

Audi E-Tron GT

What’s New: Audi’s sexy E-Tron GT sedan will follow the more practical E-Tron SUV to market just a year later but with substantial differences. Electric motors front and rear combine for 590 hp, fed by a 95-kW-hr battery pack with an 800-volt charging system capable of nearly filling the battery in 20 minutes. Range is expected to be similar to the E-Tron SUV’s 204 EPA-estimated miles—but less if you test the estimated 0–60 time of under 3.5 seconds or explore the 149-mph top speed.

What’s Not: Squint a bit, and you can tell it’s a nicely rebodied Porsche Taycan.

When: 2020

How Much: $75,000 (est)

Fiat Centoventi

What’s New: The entire fully modular cheap-EV concept. An underfloor battery rack can carry up to four individual 60-mile battery packs, which can be rented when needed. A fifth optional pack slides out from under the driver’s seat for convenient indoor charging. Body panels are molded in a single color with wraps providing other colors. Further personalization is provided by five choices each of roof styles and colors, bumpers, and wheels.

What’s Not: Fiat’s lifelong mission to bring mobility to the masses, which here drives further innovations like 3-D-printable accessories that mount to a mesh grid of holes in the dash.

When: 2022

How Much: $25,000 (est)

Acura RLX

What’s New: Is bolder better? Acura has tried to answer that question over the years, with mixed results. Love it or hate it, the new RDX benefits from engaging styling borrowed from the Precision concept—and that bold crossover is setting sales records for the brand. That momentum could continue with the RLX’s replacement, a car that may adopt the Precision’s fastback shape (hello, Audi A7). With very little brand equity in the RL or RLX name, the time could be right for a (slightly) bolder flagship four-door from Acura.

What’s Not: Future Acura cabins will be influenced by the Precision Interior concept, like the RDX with its optimally placed infotainment screen and controversial touchpad controller.

When: 2021

How Much: $57,000 (est)

Karma Pininfarina GT Concept

What’s New: The Pininfarina-designed Karma concept car made its debut at the 2019 Shanghai auto show and previews the California-based automaker’s upcoming lineup. Its design language will be a departure from the Revero, but most of the fundamental engineering is unchanged. If public response goes well, the Pininfarina GT could go from one-off concept to production model.

What’s Not: Karma recently announced a partnership with BMW and will license the German automaker’s turbocharged three-cylinder engine for use as a generator in plug-in hybrid vehicles, including the next-generation Revero.

When: 2020

How Much: $100,000 (est)

The post Future Cars! 2020 and Beyond appeared first on Motortrend.

source https://www.motortrend.com/news/future-cars-2020-and-beyond-corvette-legacy-golf-more/

[perfectirishgifts]

T-Mobile TVision Review: More Competition In Streaming Services Welcomed

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/t-mobile-tvision-review-more-competition-in-streaming-services-welcomed/

T-Mobile TVision Review: More Competition In Streaming Services Welcomed

T-Mobile TVision

There has never been a better time to cut the cord. These days, more than ever, people are looking to save money on streaming, and the selection of robust, affordable live TV streaming services make cable TV unnecessary. Earlier this month, T-Mobile launched two new Live TV Streaming Services, TVision VIBE and TVision Live, that aims to disrupt not just cable plans but also the current live streaming service out there that have increased in size and price. Unlike Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV, which bundle entertainment and sports in a single package, T-Mobile has essentially split out entertainment channels in TVision VIBE, with sports and news going in TVision Live. So, what does this new service offer? What platforms does it support? And when can you get it? I am going to go over all of that and more. I spent a few days trying out TVision on both an iPad and T-Mobile’s branded Android TV dongle, the TVision Hub. Here comes TVision with its low-cost approach. Let’s dive in.

T-Mobile Home UI

What is TVision?

TVision is a T-Mobile brand new live streaming service meant to compete with traditional cable providers and established streaming options like Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV. But do not get confused with the T-Mobile at-Home service. They are not the same thing that the company offered last year with their acquisition of Layer3 to help build the service, catapulting the relatively small cable company into the national spotlight, where that version with limited to a handful of markets around the country for $100/month. Around this time in 2017, T-Mobile announced its acquisition with the small cable TV company Layer3. At the time, the carrier said it would use the technology developed by Layer3 as the basis for disruptive cable TV service that would challenge competitors like Comcast and Verizon.

What makes Layer3 special? Layer3 is not using the type of internet that you use when you pay Comcast or Verizon. It runs its private IP network to serve users’ content directly. What that means is that Layer3 can manage your bandwidth and content without having to worry about a medium network causing congestion to slow down your speed or throttle your data with the ability to send HD video at a bandwidth of fewer than four megabits per second or at least that is what their CEO Jeff Binder has claimed.

Taking on the challenge and modern approach to putting together a TV service in this day and age, especially with the year we have been having, of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube TV, and more, Layer3 integrates content from those services alongside DVR recordings to learn what you watch over time to offer better suggestions alongside a more personalized on-demand content. One might consider that T-Mobile is buying an experienced and internet-focused company that encodes live video from streaming over a privately managed network certainly bears some parallels in execution and strategy. I would even say that the self-dubbed “uncarrier” might have something interesting up their sleeve as of now.

T-Mobile TVision

T-Mobile TVision pricing, channels & DVR

A big selling point that T-Mobile is leading heavily on is its value proposition. The fact of the matter is that T-Mobiles pitch is that traditional packages are too inflated or too pricey. They cost too much, as they pile on too many channels and a combination of channels that you do not want or use. While live TV streaming services have certainly disrupted that pattern, T-Mobile says, “some of those bigger players in the streaming space are also guilty and are getting too bloated and expensive over time.” So, here comes TVision with its low-cost approach. Below you will see a total of four plans to choose from what the company has to offer right now.

TVision Vibe: ($10 a month for two simultaneous streams, 30 channels)

TVision Live: ($40 a month for three simultaneous streams, 30 plus channels)

TVision Live Plus: ($50 a month for three simultaneous streams, 40 plus channels)

TVision Live Zone: ($60 per month for three simultaneous streams, 50 plus channels)

The company is splitting its offerings into a few different services. The service has two primary plans to choose from TVision Vibe for $10.00 and TVision Live for $40.00 plus, which can be upgraded to TVision Live, TVision Vibe for $50.00. TVision Vibe can be upgraded to TVision Live Zone for a total of $60.00. With TVision, T-Mobile has essentially split up the entertainment channels in TVision Vibe, with sports and news in TVision Live. TVision Vibe is $10.00, including Food Network, BBC America, Comedy Central, BET, Nickelodeon, Hallmark, none of the premium and more expensive Live plans do. So, to get those channels, you will need both TVision Live and TVision Vibe. One might be more of a decent fit if you have a substantial selection of over the air options and you are looking to supplement that with a few more channels. Up next is TVision channels, which are essentially the premium channels you can also tackle your live or Vibe packages like CNBC, NBC News Now, Fox News, ESPN2, and more. The TVision Live package includes a mix of sports, news, local TV channels, and entertainment.

After TVision Live, the packages become more specialized and customizable. The TVision Live Plus adds many sports channels, but few entertainment channels I found ideal given that NFL Sunday Ticket and other channels are not in the streaming service. Finally, TVision Live Zone adds a mix of news, more sports channels, and Spanish language stations like Telemundo and the NFL Network. If you upgraded to the TVision Live Zone, the most massive addition is the Longhorn Network, NFL RedZone, MAVTV, Universal Kids, and Outside Television. Channels like the Dodgers, which is owned by Spectrum, or NFL Sunday Ticket, which is owned by AT&T, will not be included, and other teams owed by other cable providers.

A significant exception was the lack of CBS local channel support, so T-Mobile customers will need to register and sign-up for CBS All Access Additionally, in some cities, FOX affiliates may not be available on TVision Live, but the national channel will feed on those networks. A&E Networks are missing across all tiers in the entertainment channels, with TVision Live including 17 of the top cable channels and TVision Vibe only includes 15. You can also purchase a few add-on movie channels as extra packages like most other streaming services, like Epix, available for $5.99, Starz for $8.99, and Showtime can be purchased for $10.99 a month. Unfortunately, HBO is not included as an add-on. To receive that content, you would need to pay for HBO Max. Additionally, if you do not find a channel that you like, T-Mobile offers individual channels on which pricing may defer.

Device Support

If pricing and plans are the most crucial detail when a new service launches, device, and platform support are probably not far behind on that list, and for TVision, that support is solid with one exception. Below is a list of platforms that will support the T-Vision application at launch. You can see the mobile site is well taken care of with Android and iOS support. Meanwhile, the ‘At-Home’ streaming can gain access to the new service from the list you see below. What I find disappointing is that there is no Roku support. I am sure it will be just a matter of time before the company will bring Roku into the lineup or continue evaluating future platforms, including next-gen game consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

Mobile:

Android (Version 5.1 and Up)

iOS/iPADS (Version 11 and up)

At Home:

Apple tv

Fire TV

Android TV

Google TV

Platforms Unsupported at Launch:

Roku

Samsung TV

LG TV

All models of Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, and Nintendo Gaming Systems

 Web Browser

T-Mobile TVision & Apple TV

Beyond all that, if you are on the TVision Live or channel plans, you can view a maximum of 3 simultaneous streams. For VIBE users at a $10/month plan, that is limited to two concurrent streams and includes a 100-hour Cloud DVR option for all three levels of the TVision Live packages, but it is an additional $4.99 add-on for the TVision Vibe Package. It is important to note that all the package prices are available for subscribers to T-Mobile postpaid accounts. It will be made available for legacy Sprint subscribers later this month in November. As for prepaid T-Mobile customers and non-T-Mobile customers, they will access TVision in 2021, but as for an exact date, I am not sure when that will be next year. T-Mobile customers who signed up for TVision Live Plus or Live Zone before December 31, 2020, could have secured a discounted Apple TV 4K set-top box for $99 and Apple TV Plus for free for a year. If all goes well during those phases, the company expects a full nationwide rollout to everyone, including those who aren’t currently customers of T-Mobile in the future; when that will be, again, I am not exactly sure, but T-Mobile has a sign-up page if you want to be notified when those stages begin. 

If you were to subscribe to both TVision VIBE and LIVE, you would get more than any other Live TV Streaming Service out there. If you would like to check out the TVisions channel list on its website, click here or compare the TVision channel line-up against other streaming services – here from CNET. Recently, FuboTV made a switch where you can stream on connected devices from two locations simultaneously, while Hulu Live TV has yet to make that change, which I highly suggest that it does. As for AT&T TV Now, YouTube TV, and Philo, they allow you to stream in different locations. On either the VIBE or LIVE plan, you can stream on a connected TV device from a single location at a time. However, if someone is streaming on a connected TV device at home, you can use a tablet or mobile device while away.

It is straightforward to record shows from the guide. As for TVisions cloud-based DVR, it does work rather well. Although it records the movie or TV show’s actual live airing instead of flipping to an on-demand version, you are limited to only 100 hours of content across all profiles on your account. Like most DVRs, TVision’s does not differ too much; it supports the ability to record single episodes, all episodes, or just new ones. Your recorded content will remain for nine months and then will be automatically deleted. As of now, I am unable to see if you can purchase additional cloud storage, but if two or three individuals are on your account and record at least one show per week, that storage will fill up in just a week or less, so I hope this gets upgraded. It has three unique features that I have not seen on other Live TV Streaming Services before. You can request it only to record recurring episodes on specific channels and give an additional time when recording shows or sports games (5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes), so you can make sure you don’t miss anything. Like its streaming competitors, unlike cable, TVision doesn’t require a contract and doesn’t need special equipment to watch on, just an application. The hub is just extra but not required.

But there is a time delay when you do record a live event. You cannot immediately watch it. I tried turning on the Dallas Cowboys game this past weekend, and I had to wait roughly 15 minutes before I could start playing back the recorded channel. Additionally, there were a few instances, like when watching an episode of ‘Ninja Warrior’ on NBC where the program did not allow me the fast forward a pre-recorded video that wasn’t on my cloud DVR with an error that read ‘fast-forwarding is disabled for this program.’ I hope that changes because I have never run into an issue when watching an episode on any streaming service where I could not do fast-forward unless it was LIVE, which it was not. 

The DVR is split out into two tabs, “Recorded” and “Scheduled.” It shows how many hours of your 100-hour DVR have been used on the top of the page. Along with the recorded tab, you can see all the shows, movies, and individual episodes that have been recorded. The ‘scheduled’ tab will show you’re showing that are to be recorded. From there, you can cancel or add padding. I have not had any issues with recording a single show so far. But, speaking of limited on-demand. I tried to check out “Fear the Walking Dead,” and the service only had season six with episodes three through seven, while Hulu Live TV had all seasons. So, since TVision has only been out less than a month, I am assuming it will gradually bring the rest of the seasons of countless shows up to date. If not, then TVision can look for a drop in subscribers just as quickly as they are signing up.

T-Mobile Tvision Guide

TVision Hub & UI

The TVision Hub resembles the TiVo Stream 4K. Powered by Android TV, you can access the Google Play Store, including a ton of other applications as well. TVision hub cost $49.99, just like the TiVo Stream 4K and Chromecast, which is surprising since T-Mobile has been making a lot of noise for less buck for their product. I will only assume that Google is making them charge each company that sets a dongle price. Honestly, the hub is not anything special anyway. Its primary function is for those that use T-Mobile as their primary carrier. The dongle comes with TVision pre-installed from Android TV with an HDMI dongle on one side. Alongside a remote control that integrates TVision-specific functions like the three new buttons: guide, DVR, and TVision, along with a number pad. It is practically a regular remote, just with a few more ‘smart button’ bells and whistles for the hub. You technically don’t even need a TVision account if all you want is a streaming device even though I am sure T-Mobile would prefer if you subscribed, but it’s worth pointing out even with the T-Mobile branding on the side, this is still a relatively an affordable streaming device for $49.99.

T-Mobile gave me an iPad Pro 2nd Generation tablet to check out the was able to check out the application’s iOS version. The home page offers up a general look at the movies of the day and trending shows. As you scroll down, you are shown categories like drama, documentaries, and more and channels given which tier package you have purchased. Watching on the Apple iPad Pro 11″ 2nd generation should not have problems with the quality. Over the past few years, one of the main changes for Live Streaming Services has been the upgradability of 60 fps (frames per second) for its streams. At 60 fps, the higher frame rate will smooth the video quality and make each show, especially for sports games and movies to look better or any performance that requires much motion. This is where TVision falls short and will most likely lose out on some significant sports fans from purchasing this product. YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, and Hulu Live TV all offer 60fps with their sports channels, but TVision only offers 30 fps, and it shows. TVision does a great job with practically not having any buffering time, and the quality is more than fair when it comes to entertainment. This is just not the right choice as of now until T-Mobile upgrades the fps. So, if you are a massive movie buff and sports fan, you might want to wait. As for the audio, I did not have any issues with it. It was crisp and learned without any delays. I am sure it will depend on which channel and device you stream with.

If you don’t own a smart TV, then this Android hub is undoubtedly dependable, and when you decide to buy that 4K TV, the device even supports up to 4K resolution and 60 fps. Unfortunately, the TVision app doesn’t have any content in that format, yet not counting the TVision In-Home service. This is a significant disadvantage compared to other streaming services that allow you to watch movies and sports games how they are meant to be watched. How much storage is inside the device? There’s 8GB of storage along 2GB of RAM with an ARM-based processor with a 1.8GHz clock speed. Additionally, you don’t need to have a wall charge available. If your TV has a USB available, it can just charge through that to be given power. Like most company’s marketing approach, T-Mobile customers get services like HBO and CBS that is not included in its channel packages. As for pricing, I do not know if they are freebies or just the applications themselves. The TVision home screen has a carousel of featured content. Below the icons for the services you are subscribed to, you will find content organized in various ways.

You can access and download familiar applications and subscription streaming services like Netflix. A nice perk is the Google Assistant for using voice commands for finding a streaming service, channel, show, or movie through the remote. T-Mobile’s attempt at a cable interface lacks pizazz but makes up for it with great functionality. The interface is clean, refreshed, and the navigation is responsive. Additionally, no matter what you are doing that time, if you press any of the maroon TVision buttons at the top, they will take you directly to the application.

When you turn on the TVision hub, the UI will show you what you have recently watched and customized your streaming application to give you recommendations, like Netflix. The UI is very responsive when using the remote control, so latency should not be an issue. The TVision viewing experience has been one of the closest to Cable TV compared to other live streaming services I have used. It is notable how fast the channels switch when changing them. The onscreen guide is quick, intuitive, and responsive and navigates as quickly as you press the button.

I am sure there will be plenty of individuals out there who will not care about the pricing and will be glad to have a TV to watch in the first place, which is fine. However, one other thing that might bother them or at least for sports fans is the lack of CBS affiliates associated with NFL and college football games that air on that channel. I am sure in no time that will change and will the rest of the TVision channel lineup. It will be in your best interest if you fall in this category to pay for CBS All Access instead.

If you happen to be a current T-Mobile customer and want to cut the cord on your cable or satellite TV system, then TVision packages are a very affordable way to get LIVE and on-demand cable TV channels. Sure, you will not have as many channels, but no one needs to watch over 300 channels. I prefer the minimalistic way of life. As I would have liked the various CBS channels to be included in the packages, the web browser access is non-existent at this point, and Roku is not being supported; this should not be a huge problem overall. Applications like Netflix, Youtube TV, and Hulu are innovative with their UI and known for it, but TVision lacks personalization, but I am sure finding various user-friendly UIs and AIs for streaming can be difficult. Streaming services UI is always changing, so it is a work in progress. Additionally, there was an issue with creating a page dedicated to ‘children friendly’ shows. Luckily, these parents will be glad to know that they can create a PIN that will lock out any adult-rated programs in the application. The bottom line is, the TVision app UI and its features are fresh but nothing spectacular.

T-Mobile Tvision Hub

Wrapping up

When it comes to streaming services, one of the biggest questions revolves around price. T-Mobiles most significant selling points at launch are price and choice. It is good plans that are “half the price of cable TV,” and there are no annual service contracts to speak of either. It is even adequate protection from plan blow or, as it describes on the T-Mobile site, “No Exploding Plans.”. It is essentially offering low-cost service plans in configurations that are more attractive to consumers while promising no commitment or price hikes down the road. T-Mobile’s new streaming bundles are competitively priced while other streaming services offer more networks at the same price point, but TVision’s plans include fewer “waste” channels that will most likely not be used, ranging on preference for each person. It is still early days for TVision as it will undoubtedly continue to build out its service as time goes on, especially within the next few months. TVision is a service that is a bridge between cord-cutting and your applications. You can get some of the best of traditional cable but with a little bit of application thrown in that will suit your needs.

For now, if you are looking for a cable replacement, T-Mobile’s offering will do just that. But do not expect much more for some time. T-Mobile’s movement to give it a shot into the TV market is an exciting move by the mobile carrier, even if it is not anything to jump for joy about but as of now. An ideal consumer would be someone who already uses another source for streaming and wants to surf through various channels for background noise or when they are plain bored. That $10/month Vibe package is going to be very tempting. But a lack of CBS affiliates and streaming quality that lags the competition holds it back from being an industry kingpin. Finally, strategically, I would have loved there to have been a 5G option versus WiFi, but we’ll have to wait a bit for that.

Will T-Mobile suffer the same fate as some of their competitors and give in to increasing their streaming price, or are they onto something here by offering lower-cost streaming packages? Either way, we have another streaming option to consider.  Of course, I will be keeping a close eye on T-visions pricing and plans moving forward. After all, it is one thing to say you have better prices and choices at launch, but it is another thing entirely to keep that promise over the longterm. The bottom line is that T-Mobile is jumping into the cable streaming alternative ring with a service that works as intended, but there are still a couple of big bumps that need to be smoothed out.

Note: Moor Insights & Strategy writers and editors may have contributed to this article. 

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